Time-fuse mechanism



w. 8., McCABEQ' TIME1FUS E MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 4, 191l-Patented Mar. 16,1920.

UN TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS'W. B. MCCABE, OF WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT.

TIME-FUSE MIECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented B131. 16, 1920.

Application filed June 4, 1917. Serial No. 172,774.

' To all whom it ma 1 concern Be it knownthat I, THOMAS V/R. Mo-

CAB'E, a" citizen of the United States, residcertain new and usefulImprovements in Time-Fuse Mechanism; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full,"clear, and

' exact description jectiles and of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in. the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame. This invention is an improvement in pro has particular reference.to a time fuse mechanism for explosive shells and the like. t '7 Anobject of the invention is'to provide an'improved mechanism which willinsure the accurate tnmng of the explosion of the designed.

A sions, one of which,

' Y and; rotary regulating connection with the invention.

1 The projectile n -ing-t-he present The inventive ideafinvolved iscapable of receiving av variety of mechanical expresfor the purpose ofillustrating the invention, is shown in the accompanying drawing;understood that the construction shown in said drawing is used only toillustrate the invention as a' whole and not to define the limitsthereof, reference being had to the claims for this purpose.

' In the drawing;

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an eXplo-' sive hell constructed inaccordance with the invention.

Fig.2 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section showing the timefuse in position therein.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged secti'on'of a detail. 1 p

- Fig 4 isa plan view of a release valve dev ce employed in or explosiveshell embodyinvention preferably comprovided with a reprises a bodyportion 5 having mounted on cess 6 in one end and said end the cap ornose 7[ This cap isproing at \Vaterbury, in the county of New; Haven,State of Connecticut, have invented but it is to be expressly .lockedposition by a set vided in its inner end with'a recess '8' similar tothe recess 6 and forming therewith a chamber the purpose of which willappear 1n the course of the description; Adjacent the. outer end of thecap the same is provided with a second chamber 9' which communicateswith the first named chamber through an opening or passage 10, the outerend of said chamber 9 being closed by a plug 11." Mounted to slidelongitudinally of the body portion 5 and cap 7 is the spring pressedfiring pin or hammer 12 the forward end of which preferably extendsthrough a longitudinal slot 13 in the outer end of a transverse lockingpin lt provided with a shoulder 15 for normally engaging the lateralextension 16 of said firing pin whereby to prevent actuation thereof.The inner end of the locking pin is beveled as indicated at 17 andprojects into the chamber 9 and is arranged in the path of movement ofthe beveled head 18 of the plunger 19, the longitudinal axis of which ispreferably coincident with that of the projectile so that when saidplunger moves,- as will later appear, the beveled head 18 will contactwith the beveled end 17 of the locking pin at a predetermined time andadjust the same transversely so as to release-the firing pin. Thelocking pin 14' is normally retained in its screw 20 engaging the outerend thereof so as to prevent any accidental outward movement and thisset screw must be removed before the projectile is fired. j v

A cylindrical casing or receptacle 21 is preferably mountedlongitudinally of the opening or passage 10 and is provided at one endwith a reduced portion 22 extending into the chamber 9 and encirclingthe plunger 19 which has a coil spring 23 mounted thereon the inner endof which engages the piston 24 of said plunger which moveslongitudinally of thecasing 21. Retarding means, preferably in vgranular material 25 of any desired kind is placed within the casing 21between the iston 24: and the inner end of said caslng which is taperedor reduced and made to terminate in a restricted neck or spout26 theform of a forming an outlet for said casing and offset or inclined fromthe longitudinal amen thereof. This outlet is so arranged in order topermit of the release of the material 25 from thecasing by thecentrifugal force due force the piston 24 inwardly v head 18 to approachand eventually contact with the lockingpin 14: with .already described.

.the outlet 26 for controlling the, passage of tothe rotary movement ofthe projectile while traversing its trajectory and said material willempty into'the chamber 6'. It

will be apparent. that as thematerialis released from the casing =thespring 23 will and cause. the

the. result Means are provided in connection-with the material 25therethrough and said means preferably comprises a valve 27 slidablymounted in theh'ead '5 .and provided upon one end with an enlargement 28operable in a recess 29 in said head, said recess being closed bya-screw which forms a stop v whereby to limit the rearward movement ofsaid valve when the same is operated. The endsof the valve 27oppositethe enlargement 28 is provided which is normally out of registrationwith prevent the the outlet 'endiof the neck 26 whereby to material 25from escaping fronrthe'casing. vThe valve 27 is yieldably re- .tained inits normal-position by a spring verse SCI'BW 'pressedpin 32- slida'blymounted in a trans- -the body '5', the pressure of said pin being Theactuation of the releasing valve 27 is- .ca used by regulated opening.and bearing against the spring 35.

its relative inertia when the projectile is fired and the shock of saidfiring will'cause said valve to overcomejthe pressure of the pin '32thereagainst and the same will move rearwardly until the enlargement 28'contacts with the stop screw 30 where-.

upon the opening-'31 will register with the outlet end of the neck 26.and the valve will then be in a position to permit of the passage ofthe material'25 from'the casing into era'bly comprises a 'slstlng of athe chamber 6.

The means for regulating or. controlling the flow of the material fromthe teasing 21 and the consequent, speed of movement of 38 is normallylocked by a screw 39 engaging the same so as to prevent its rotation.

said screw being removed prior to setting the device. The inner end ofthe shank 36 has formed thereon a disk or plate 40 be- V tweenjwhich,and 1 the va "e27.

the outlet 26 is interposed .The plate 40 is provided adts peripherywith a plurality of with' a valve opening 31- threaded opening-33 formedin byuascrew '34 adjustable in said the material 8. The outer end of theshank '36 is provided with a graduated trainsveise tapered or conicalopenings ll of various sizes each of which is adapted to be registeredwith the valve opening 31 and the outlet 26 when the valve 27 is in itsreleasing position. It will be understood, of cour se,-that the speed atwhich the material 25 escapes from the casing .21 is controlled by thesize of the opening" 41 and a the larger the opening the, shorter willbethe interval between thesfiring'of the 'pro-'' jectile-and theexplosion thereof. The plunger 19 is so arranged 'n the cap. 7 thatshould the mechanism fail tooper- .ate, through any defect inconstruction, in

the usual manner the same will be actuated to release thefiring pin bythe impactr'and consequent inward mox'ement, of the plug 11 withanobject. 1 i

It will be noted-that the discharge of the material 25 is radially oratrightangle to the axis of the projectile. The speed of rotation of theprojectile varies in proportion to the speed ofits flight from the gun.

Thus,-'ii asmuch as the discharge of the 1na terial 25 will be modifiedin its speed: by centrifugal action, -in proportionto the speed ofrotation of theshell, its discharge will also be in proportion to itsspeed 'of flight. Thus the more quickly the shell 7 reaches theobjective, the more quickly \vill" 25 be discharged so that when p themechanism is properly set ,-the explo sien will. occur .at the properinstant notw thstandlng a variation in the-time of its @1001 What isclaimed is 1. In a time fuse mechanism for explod.--'

.ing projectiles. the combinati'on'of a firing pin, a lock therefor. acasing. a plunger movable in' said casing -and adapted. when .moved, -tocontact with said lock to release .the same,means releasably held withinsaid casing to retard themovement of. said plunger. and sl dable meansactuated by the firing of the projectile *to release said retard-. I

ingmeans 2. In a time [fuse mechanism. for explod ing projectiles,.-.thecombination of afiring pin, a lock therefor, a casing, a plunger movable1n s aidcasing-and adapted. .when

mox'ed. to contact ,with said lock to release the same. means releasablvheld'within' said casing to retard the l novenlent of said plun-g ger,slidable' means actuated li vthe firing-- of the projectile to releasesaid retarding means. and means regulating the release of saidretardmg'means whereby to control the speed of movement of the plungerin said 3. In a time fuse mechanism forexploding projectiles. thecombination of a firing pin. a lock therefor. a casing. a plunger movable in said casing and adapted. 'when moved. to contact. with said lockto release v the same, means releasably-held within said'iso whereby tocontrol the speed ger, slidable means actuated by the firing of theprojectile to release said retarding means,

'androtatable means adjustable from the 6X-,

terior ofthe projectile for regulating the rate of release of saidretarding means of movement of the plunger in said casing.

Y 4. In a. time fuse mechanism for exploding projectiles,the'combination of a firing pin, a lock therefor, a casing, a plungermovable in said casing and adapted, when moved. to contact withsaid-lock to release the same, means relcasably held Within said casingto retard the movement of said plun ger, and a slidevalve actuated bythefiring of the projectile to release said retarding means.

In a. time fuse mechanism for explodingprojectiles, the'combination ofa. firing pin, a lock therefor, a casing, a plunger movable in saidcasing and adapted, when moved, to contact with said lock torelease the.same, means releasably held Within said casing to retard the movement ofsaid plunger. means regulating;- the release of said retarding meanswhereby to control the speed of movement of the plunger in said casing,

and means interposed betweensaid casing v and actuated by the firing; ofthe projectile to release said retrifugal action projectile and the lastnamed: means tarding means.

6. In a time ing projectiles, pin, a lock therefor,'-a casing, able insaid to contact with said lock to release the same, means releasablyheld within said casing to retard the movement of-said plunger, meansregulating the release of said retarding means whereby to control thespeed of movement of the fuse mechanism for explodthe combination of afiring;

a plunger movplunger in said casing, and a slide valve interposedbetween said casing and the last named means and actuated by the firingof the projectile to release said retarding means.

7. In a time ing projectiles, pin. a lock therefor, a. movable in saidcasing and adapted, when movech to contact with said lock to release thesame, meansrelcasably held within said casing to retard the movement ofsaid plunger, rotatable means ad ustable from the exterior of theprojectile for regulating the release of said retarding means whereby tocontrol the speed of movement of the plunthe combination of a firmgcasing, a plunger ger in said casing, and means interposed be- I ing ingprojectiles,

of the projectile to casing and adapted, when moved,

, I v 'lea'sed therefrom partly fuse mechanism for ezg'plod projectilefor controlling the "ing material normally body portion thereof,granular retarding mate-rial normally held Within said casing' andreleased ther'efrom partly through centrifugal action due to therotation of the projectile when moving through its trajectory, and meansmovable within said casing. as the material isbeing released to actuate.said lock whereby to permit of the operation" of said firing pin.

" 9. In a time fuse mechanism for explodpro ectiles, the combination ofa firing a lock therefor,

- lock whereby to permit of the operation of said firing, pin, and meansregulating the release of said material 'and the speed of: movement ofthe last named means.

. 10. In atime fuse mechanism pin,-a1ock therefor. a casing having anoutlet otfset from the longitudinal axis of the. body portion thereof,agranular retarding material normally held Within said easing andreleased therefrom partly through 'cendue to the rotation of the whenmoving through its trajectory, a .valve device actuated by the firingpermit of the release.- of said material from said casing, and meansmovable in said casing as the material is being released to actuatesaid. lock whereby to permit of the operation of said firing pin.

11. In a time fuse mechanism for exploding.

projectiles the combination of a firing pin, a lock therefor, set fromthelongitudinal' axis of the body portion thereof, a granular retardingmate rial normally held within said casing and rethrough centrifugalaction due to the rotation of the projectile when moving through itstrajectory, a va ve device actuated by the firing of the pro ectile topermit ofthe release of said material from said casing. means movable insaid casing, as; the material is being released to actuate said lockwhereby to permit of the operation of said firing pin. and regplatingmeans operable from the exterior of the release of said mate ial and theconsequent speed of move ment of said movable means,

12. In a time fuse mechanism for exploding projectiles. the combinationof a firing pin. a lock therefor. a casing having an outlet offset fromthe longitudinal axis f the-body portion thereof. a granular retardheldwithin said casingfand released therefrom-partly through for'explod thecombmation'of a firinga casing havingan outlet offset from thelongitudixialaxis ofthe a casinghaving an outlet oifiio centrifugalaetion due to the rotation of the projectile when moving through itstrajec-' {tor-y; a slide valvegaotuated bythe firing {bf the projectile;to'permit' of the release of 5853M material, and mean's'movable in saidcasing .as the material is; being released to wtuate said look-.fwher'eby permitiot, the- Operation of "said fi n 5 material normallyheld-Within said casing g5: and released therefrom partly through cenZtrifugal action due tothe rotation of the 'iprojeetile when no'vingthrough its trajec- 1 'EIn a time: fuse m hani'sfm'forexplod tory,a slide valve actuated the firing of the projectile to permit of therelease of "said material, means movable in said as the material isbeing released to actuatesaid lock whereby to permit-of the operation ofsaid firing pin; and rotarymeans mounted in. the projectile and operablefrom the exf terior thereofto regulate the release of said "aterialandthe'eonsequent speed of.move-, 'ment [Oi said movable means.

' In testimony whereof, I aflix my "signature in the presence of twoWitnesses. THOMAS W. R. MQCABE.

'VVitnesses:

A. LOUISE BUTLER, .MARY E. MONAGAN,

